The Highland Waste Partnership exist to reduce wastage across the Highlands, and are driven by community groups. One of these partners is the Lochaber Environmental Group. Lesley and her team work to promote a sustainable lifestyle for Lochaber, and do this by supporting projects with a focus on sustainability. Green Fingers encourages and empowers a diverse audience across Lochaber to use environmental practices. They upcycle furniture, and create pieces from recycled materials. The Bike Kitchen restores donated bikes to their former glory, run bike maintenance workshops to upskill people in bike repair and offer tool loans & safety checks. By supporting community-led projects, they are inspiring inclusion.

A passionate group of children in Ullapool are taking the initiative to ensure their generation’s future is green. Their connection to the sea is strong, and they helping clear marine litter and inspire others to ensure marine conservation. By raising awareness and respect for drainage, they hope to prevent litter even entering the sea. Across Ullapool, the abundance of litter has drastically reduced thanks to their crucial work. Painting drains across Ullapool has brought marine awareness into the community, and created a positive relationship with the Sea. Ullapool Sea Savers inspire the need for a diverse climate response, and the inclusion of our bright next generation is paramount.

Emily’s philosophy for Inverness is to create a city that is cycle friendly - to introduce cycling as a safe and accessible means of transport. At Velocity Cafe being active is connected to their eatery through Bicycle Workshops. As Bicycle Mayor, she campaigns for Inverness to become a more bicycle friendly city, and reduce reliance on cars as a mode of transport. Kidical Mass encourages cycling by hosting a community bike ride in the heart of Inverness. By showing a group front, it encourages the predominance of bikes, and creates a safe space for children to cycle in Inverness. Creating a space where bikes have a place for the Next Generation is their hope.

By harnessing the Earth’s natural resources to make energy, Raasay is connecting their community to the environment through the lifeline of electricity. Raasay Community Renewables are using hydro stations to create an income for their community through the sale of electricity, and looking towards using it locally. By utilising two existing rivers on the Island they can create and export electricity to the National Grid. Rosie is passionate for all things Renewables, and this project allows her to connect to her local community and harness the power that brings in Community Benefit.

In Kyle of Sutherland, their Development Trust are taking their community’s connection with the Earth to the next level - through Sutherland Girls on Boards. Using their natural assets of the Kyle, they are bringing together the female community with paddle boarding! By strengthening themselves and feeling the peace of paddle boarding, their appreciation for the environment grows. Beth takes the Girls on Boards group to beautiful local places, and encourages the feeling of connection to each other and the Kyle to #InspireInclusion.

Lairg and District Learning Centre immersed their community into the Climate by exhibiting Letters to the Earth in Rogart Mart. They engaged the whole community - their Primary School created a book about Wild Eating and the Exhibition featured an autobiography based on a croft highlighting changes across the years, resonating with locals. Lairg District and Learning Centre brought an international Exhibition to a small town, connecting people across the Earth in the Climate Cause.

Golspie is at critical risk of flooding, but Henrietta and Golspie do not want to turn their backs on the sea. Inspired by the work of their pier as a natural groin, Go Golspie Trust is campaigning to have groins recreated across their coastline. Not only will this protect the community, but foster a positive relationship with the sea as it will create a beach for Golspie to enjoy!

Do you have a Climate Cafe® in your area? We’re seeing a rise in these being held across our region and would love to see more! Learn more about the Climate Cafe® including the recording of a recent Skillshare event with Founder Jess Pepper.

In January we opened our Climate Action Fund; we were excited to read applications from our members with their future plans, and delighted to be introduced to new organisations and their bold ideas! Read all about in our Funding Reflections blog.

Our pilot Sustainable Spaces programme started in January with 9 community oganisations taking a journey with us towards making their community spaces more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Find out more in this update.

Happy Valentines Day! Check out Alice’s blog about Grantown’s Green Heart workshop to create some climate love!

Read Luci’s account of ceilidh dancing in the street, cracking conversations and community spirit!

Read Luci’s review of the RSPB talk held as part of the Highlands & Islands Climate Festival.

Mhairi’s visit to Movern Games & Gala Week and Kinlochleven Gala Day